Snap-hook.



Patented Dec. I9, I899 G. H. STEWART.

SNAP H 00K.

(Application filed Apr. 26, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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PATENT Fries.

GEORGE H. STEWYART, OF ANETA, N ORTH' DAKOTA, ASSIGN OR OF ONE- HALF TO JOHN G. GUNDERSON, OF SAME PLACE.

SNAP-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,309, dated December 19, 1899. Application filed April 26, 1899. Serial N0. 714,553. (N0 111M181) To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. STEWART, a citizen of the United States,residing at Aneta, in the county of Nelson, State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Snap-Hooks, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to improvements in snap-hooks, my object being primarily to provide such a hook in which the guard member is easily and cheaply made and conveniently applied to the main hook member.

To this end and also to improve generally upon devices of the nature indicated my invention consists in the various matters hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of my invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, A represents the shank of a snaphook, and B the hook-tongue, while 0 indicates the guard member. In the present in vention the shank is preferably enlarged, as at a, at a point in line with a suitable portion of the hook, and in said enlargement are provided two transverse openings ct, which form sockets for suitable lugs or fingers upon the guard member. The guard member 0 coinprises side pieces 0, having inwardly-projecting lugs or fingers c, which enter the beforementioned sockets and are free to turn therein, while said side pieces are connected by a resilient cross-piece 0 As shown in Fig. 3, this cross-piece can be straight; but preferably it is coiled, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. This latter construction not only imparts greater resiliency to the crosspiece, but also forms a seat for the tongue B between appropriate coils. The sockets a are formed on difierent centers, and therefore if the guard member be swung in either direction the cross-piece is sprung, insuring the return of the guard member to normal position when left free to act.

Preferably the entire guard member is composed of a single piece of resilient Wire, with its central portion forming the cross-piece and its ends bent to produce the lugs or fingers. Such a guard member can be manufactured at slight expense and is readily sprung into position with the side pieces embracing the shank between them, the resiliency of the wire holding the fingers securely in their sockets. Furthermore, preferably the sockets are placed in transverse line with each other, as shown, whereby the side pieces of the guard member lie in the same transverse plane, thus economizing space. A guard member constructed as indicated can be swung in either direction and will always return to normal central position. Therefore I so construct the said guard member and the tongue B with relation to each other that the guard member is free to swing in either direction, whereby the cockeye or other member engaged by the snap-hook can be readily forced past the guard member into or out of the hook, the guard member, however, preventing accidental disengagement between the parts.

A snap-hook constructed in accordance with the present invention is cheaply and easily constructed, neat in appearance, and efficient in operation. It is particularly adapted for use upon whiffietrees or harness, but manifestly its use is in no wise thus limited.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A snap-hook or the like having a guard member having side pieces pivoted at different centers, and a resilient connecting mem ber between said side pieces; substantially as described.

2. A snap-hook or the like having a guard member having side pieces pivoted at difierent centers, and a coiled, resilient connecting member between said side pieces; substantially as described.

3. A snap-hook or the like having a guard member having side pieces pivoted at different centers, and a coiled, resilient connecting member between said side pieces, a portion of the snap-hook proper (as the tongue) lying between coils of the connecting member when the parts are in normal position; substantially as described.

4. A snap-hook or the like having a portion (as the shank) having sockets at different centers, a guard member having side pieces, a resilient connecting member between said side pieces, and fingers upon said side pieces journaled in said sockets; substantially as described.

5. A snap-hook or the like having a portion (as the shank) having sockets in the same transverse line but at difierent centers, a guard member having side pieces, a resilient connecting member between said side pieces, and fingers upon said side pieces journaled in said sockets; substantially as described.

0. A snap-hook or the like having a guard member having side pieces embracing an appropriate portion of the snap-hook proper (as the shank), and pivoted upon said portion, and a resilient connecting member between the side pieces; substantially as described.

7. A snap-hook or the like having a suitable portion (as the shank) provided with pivot members on opposite sides and at different centers, a guard member comprising side pieces which lie on opposite sides of the pivot-member-bearing portion, a crosspiece connecting the side pieces, the said side pieces and the cross-piece being formed of a single piece of resilient material, and pivotal members upon the side pieces engaging the'respective pivot members upon the said pivot-member-bearin'g portion; substantially as described.

8. A snap-hook or the like having a suitable portion (as the shank) provided with sockets at different centers and opening upon opposite sides thereof, a guard member formed of a single piece of resilient material and having side pieces embracing the said socket-bearing portion between them, and a coiled cross-piece connecting said side pieces, the ends of the side pieces extending inwardly and producing fingers entering said sockets, a portion of the snap-hook proper (as the tongue) lying between coils of the cross-piece when the parts are in normal position 5 substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE H. STEWART.

Vitnesses:

J. G. GUNDnnsoN, BERTHA M. GUNDERSON. 

